Ally McCoist hopes to bring in fresh faces

ALLY McCOIST has urged Rangers owner Craig Whyte to bankroll a January spending spree to bring in quality additions.

Ally McCoist has urged Rangers owner Craig Whyte to help him bring in quality additions

Rangers manager McCoist is desperate to strengthen his squad when the transfer window opens and will meet with Whyte to discuss his budget.

McCoist, above, knows it is essential they bring in new faces with Rangers two points behind Celtic in the race for the SPL title.

Rangers brought in seven players during the summer transfer window as they had to bolster their threadbare squad, but McCoist knows they need to add quality as well as quantity.

The manager revealed both he and Whyte learned from the previous transfer window and hopes they’ll be able to splash the cash.

When asked if he hopes to attract a higher level player in January, McCoist said: “In an ideal world, that would be great.

If someone is saying Jelavic has downed tools, far from it

Ally McCoist

“Generally speaking, you get what you pay for. If you get a few quid to spend, the obvious assumption is that you get a better standard of player. But we’ll just have to wait and see.

“I’ll be meeting up with Craig again in the next couple of days.

“I would definitely hope there will be some activity in the window. I’ve gone on record as saying I’d like to strengthen the forward areas and my opinion has not changed.

“Whether we get the opportunity to do it, in terms of buying people or wheeling and dealing, remains to be seen.”

McCoist admitted the summer window was a learning curve for himself and Whyte, right, and added: “I can’t predict what will happen but I know I will have support from Craig. We’ve got one or two, in an ideal world, we would like to bring in.”

McCoist hit back at accusations striker Nikica Jelavic is going through the motions as he waits for a move and says the window is an incentive for him.

He added: “If someone is saying Jelavic has downed tools, far from it.

“If he wanted to leave, or the club wanted to sell him, the only way that happens is if he is playing well and attracting interest.”

Rangers are waiting to hear the extent of Steven Whittaker’s injury.

McCoist said: “Steven has been struggling with a pelvic problem and also has a knee injury. Hopefully, we can get it sorted soon.”